Beautifully bred colt Best Choice lived up to the hype surrounding his debut with an impressive victory in the Hyland Race Colours Maiden Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Best Choice (3c Redoute’s Choice – Jade Tiara by Bureaucracy) is a half-brother to Group 1 sprinter Silent Witness who won 17 races in a row in Hong Kong and Japan between 2002 and 2005.

Trainer Clarry Conners believes Best Choice has a big future but won’t begin to reach his full potential until the autumn  carnivals next year.  “He’s a big horse and a pretty special horse,” Conners said.  “He went shin sore and we had to tip him out a couple of times but that may have been beneficial in the long run.”

Best Choice was a $275,000 buy from Yarraman Park at the 2009 Inglis Easter yearling sale.  He is raced by Apollo Ng who is a long-time Connors client.

Jockey Peter Robl was also impressed with the winner who came with a powerful finish to defeat Swift Judgement (God’s Own) and Mac Chois (Choisir).   “He’s stands well over 16 hands and will be much better when he gets on a larger track than Canterbury,” he explained.  “And he’s got a terrific attitude to go with it.”

Besides, Silent Witness (El Moxie), Best Choice is a half-brother to the stakes performer Very Fit (Woodman) and a full brother to Sister Madly who was G1 placed in the SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes in March.  

Sister Madly is a homebred for Edinburgh Park owner Ian Smith.  He sold Jade Tiara some years ago and the mare is now under the ownership of Patinack Farm.  Her Encosta de Lago filly sold for $700,000 at the 2010 Inglis Easter yearling sale to Paul Messara.